26 contemporary and auteur monuments 16 international architects 1 Pritzker Prize 1 European Town Planning Prize 3 Europa Nostra Awards
World Heritage City 9 baroque squares 25 modernist buildings 27 historic churches 110 stone gargoyles 170-hectare Old Town
1 Cathedral 74-metre high Obradoiro towers 4 monumental squares 18 Cathedral chapels Way of St. James declared World Heritage Route
12 15 18 19
200 figures in the ÒP rtico de la GloriaÓ 8,300 square metres of Cathedral 10-ton main bell 68 km/h during the ÒBotafumeiroÓ censerÕs flight 1,500,000 m2 of green spaces 5 historical gardens 54 city gardens 8 natural viewpoints 5 international environmental protection prizes
convents and monasteries cloisters monumental fountains stately houses and ÒpazosÓ
11 theatres and auditoriums 13 museums 14 libraries and archives 15 art galleries 365 days of cultural activities 30 large international festivals
100,000 inhabitants 1,100 restaurants, bars and cafeterias 5 varieties of wine with guarantee of origin 80 kinds of sea fish 50 types of molluscs 188,130 kilos of seafood sold annually
www.santiagoturismo.com www.santiagoreservas.com
A Lot to Do
Santiago de Compostela, capital of Galicia and a UNESCO World Heritage City, is the final destination of the Way of St. James. Pilgrims from all over the world visit the Apostle JamesÕ relics and gain the Jubilee in its Cathedral each Hoy Year A holy city, episcopal see during a thousand years and university city for more than 500 years, Santiago de Compostela is now a living and monumental city, dynamic and safe, and ideal for walking.
Touring the City 1. HISTORICAL CENTRE Cathedral. Open daily. 7.30 am-9 pm. According to an ancient tradition, St. James the Greater, one of ChristÕs twelve apostles, was buried by his disciples in a forest of finis terrae. After the miraculous discovery of his relics in the 9th century, a sanctuary began to be erected in 1075, resulting in todayÕs monumental Cathedral. The original structure of this Romanesque masterpiece has been preserved, along with Gothic, Renaissance and baroque additions. The following stand out inside: ÒP rtico da GloriaÓ. Maestro Mateo. 12th c. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments, centred on the theme of Salvation. High Altar, Apostolic Tomb and Alcove. Baroque baldachin and silver altar, 17th c. Relics of St. James in the mausoleum. ÒBotafumeiroÓ. Largest censer in the world. It reaches a speed of 68 km per hour. It is normally used only during religious solemnities, except in Holy Years, when it functions every day. Chapels. The oldest ones are those of do Salvador and da Corticela, which was an independent oratory in the 10th c. ¥ Museum. Includes visit to the crypt, Treasury and Relics, cloister, tapestry room, archaeology rooms, chapterhouse, library and archive. October 1-May 31: 10 am-1.30 pm, 4-6.30 pm. Sun and public holidays: 10 am-1.30 pm. June 1-September 30: 10 am-2 pm, 48 pm. Sun and public holidays: 10 am-2 pm. ¥¥ Rooftops. Artistic-historical interest and one of the best views of the city. Access via Palace of Xelm rez. Every day, 10 am-2 pm, 4-8 pm.
ÒPraza do ObradoiroÓ Called after the workshops (obradoiros) of the stonemasons that worked on the Cathedral, it features the cityÕs main civil and religious buildings. Obradoiro Fa ade. A masterpiece of CompostelaÕs baroque style, 17th-18th c. 74-metre high towers. ¥ Cloister. One of the largest in Spain. Renaissance. 16th c. ÒHostal dos Reis Cat licosÓ. Pilgrim hospital and shelter converted in the 20th century into a five-star ÒParador.Ó ¥ ArchbishopÕs Palace of Xelm rez. One of the best civil buildings in SpainÕs Romanesque style. 12th c. Palace of Raxoi. Neoclassical, 18th c. Santiago City Hall. ÒPazo de San XeromeÓ. Renaissance. Houses the University of Santiago ViceChancellorÕs Office. ÒPraza das Prater asÓ The CathedralÕs south square is called after the workshops of the silversmiths that surrounded the cloister in the Middle Ages. CathedralÕs Romanesque fa ade. 12th c. Rich iconography centred on the life of Christ. Clock Tower. Called the ÒBerenguela.Ó The base is from the 14th c. and the baroque top from the 18th c. Houses the CathedralÕs largest bell. ÒCasa do CabidoÓ. Stone backdrop barely three metres wide, 1758. ÒCasa do De nÓ. Palace-house, 18th c. Houses the Pilgrim Office.
ÒPraza da QuintanaÓ Baroque square divided in two: top, ÒQuintana de VivosÓ; bottom, ÒQuintana de MortosÓ, a burial site until 1780. Holy Door. Only opened in Holy Years. ¥ Monastery of San Paio de Antealtares. Founded in the 10th c. TodayÕs baroque building houses cloistered Benedictine nuns. Sacred Art Museum. MonÐSat: 10.30 amÐ1.30 pm, 4Ð7 pm. ÒCasa da CongaÓ and ÒCasa da ParraÓ. Baroque houses, 18th c.
ÒPraza da InmaculadaÓ and Òda Acibecher aÓ Called after the workshops that carved jet stone (ÒacibecheÓ), it marks the end of the French, English and North pilgrim routes. CathedralÕs north fa ade. Baroqueneoclassical. * Monastery of San Marti o Pinario. Founded in the 10th c. TodayÕs building houses the second-largest monastery in Spain (20,000 square metres). Church and Diocesan Museum can be visited. Oct 1-Jun 14: Mon-Sun, 11 am-1.30 pm, 4-6.30 pm. June 15-30: Mon-Sun: 11 am-1.30 pm, 4-7.30 pm. Jul 1-Sept 30: Mon-Sun, 11 am-7 pm.
Other places of interest ¥ ÒColexio de FonsecaÓ. Renaissance, 1522, houses the University library. Church and Convent of San Francisco. Gothic convent, renovated in the 17th c. Functions as a hotel. Church from the 18th c. ÒR asÓ. Not to be missed is a leisurely stroll along R a do Vilar and R a Nova, full of arches and stately houses; O Franco and A Ra a, dotted with restaurants and bars; and the traditional shopping route formed by OrfasCaldeirer a-Preguntoiro streets. ¥¥ Alameda Park. 19th c. Features a magnificent view of the old town, ornamental species, oak grove, chapels, fountains and statues. ¥ ÒPazo de Benda aÓ. Baroque building that now houses the Granell Foundation. Jun 1-Sept 30: Tue-Sat, 11 am-9 pm. Sun, 11 am-2 pm. Rest of the year: TueSat, 11 am-2 pm, 4- 9 pm. Sun, 11 am2 pm. Closed on Mon and holidays. Church of Santa Mar a Salom . 12th c. Baroque reconstruction, Romanesque fa ade. Church of San Fiz de Solovio. 12th c. Baroque reconstruction, Romanesque fa ade. ¥¥ Faculty of Geography and History. Neoclassical. Rooftops can be visited. ÒPraza de AbastosÓ. The main market features fresh fish and seafood, meat, fruit, vegetables, flowers and cheeses in a monumental building from the 20th c. MonÐSat: 8 am.Ð2 pm. ¥ Pilgrimage Museum. Occupies the ÒCasa G ticaÓ and highlights the importance of pilgrimages. TueÐFri: 10 amÐ8 pm. Sat: 10.30 amÐ1.30 pm, 5Ð8 pm. Sun: 10.30 amÐ1.30 pm.
Gastronomy
3. OTHER SANTIAGOS
2. SAN DOMINGOS DE BONAVAL AND SAN PEDRO NEIGHBOURHOOD The neighbourhoods of San Domingos de Bonaval and San Pedro make up an area characterised by art, history, scenery, popular tradition and contemporary architecture. ¥ Convent of San Domingos de Bonaval and ÒMuseo do Pobo Galego.Ó Ethnographic museum of Galicia. Rooms featuring the sea, countryside, trades and traditional architecture. Gothic church. TueÐSat: 10 amÐ2 pm, 4Ð8 pm. Sun and public holidays: 11 amÐ2 pm. Admission free. ¥ CGAC. Contemporary art in a building by çlvaro Siza. Free guided tours. Sept 21May 20: Tue-Sun, 11 am-8 pm. May 21Sept 20: Tue-Sun, 12-8 pm. Admission free. ¥¥ San Domingos de Bonaval Park. Combines an old Dominican garden, oak grove and former cemetery in terraces designed by çlvaro Siza and Isabel Aguirre. Not-to-be-missed views of the city. San Pedro neighbourhood. Final stage of the Way of St. James before entering the old town via ÒPorta do Cami o.Ó Traditional houses, gastronomy and old bars.
Santiago is the capital of Atlantic gastronomy. Its market (ÒPlaza de AbastosÓ) offers fresh sea and farm produce: more than 80 kinds of fish, 50 types of molluscs and meats that are prepared in a very natural way to preserve their top quality.
Santiago is a lot more than its old town. Venturing beyond it, you will discover monuments, picturesque traditional streets, designer buildings, appealing shops and viewpoints. ¥¥ Belv s neighbourhood. Wonderful view of the old town. Dominican convent. Park with views. ÒA TriscaÓ socio-cultural centre, designed by John Hejduk. ¥ Collegiate Church of Sar. Romanesque, 12th c. Striking inclination of its walls and columns. Small museum in its Romanesque cloister. MonÐSat: 10 amÐ1 pm, 4Ð7 pm. ÒEnsancheÓ. Large urban expansion area, 20th c. Shops, Galician fashion, caf s and restaurants. Galician Parliament (R a do H rreo). ¥¥ University campuses. The South Campus arose in the 1930s as a Ògarden city.Ó The North Campus features the Journalism and Philology Faculties and the Auditorio de Galicia. Contemporary architecture. Internationally renowned architects enrich the cityÕs image: John Hejduk, J.P. Kleihues, çlvaro Siza, Manuel Gallego Jorreto, Giorgio Grassi, Jean Nouvel, Arata Isozaki, Peter Eisenman, C sar Portela, etc. ¥¥ Parks and viewpoints. SantiagoÕs rolling terrain has given rise to natural viewpoints such as the Alameda, San Domingos de Bonaval, Belv s, Galeras Park, Granxa do Xesto and Carlomagno Park.
More than a thousand bars and restaurants offer both traditional cooking and auteur cuisine; Galician and internation food; gourmet menus, set meals, portions and tapas. Not to be missed are seafood, Òpolbo feiraÓ (Galician-style octopus), Òqueixo tetillaÓ (conical soft cheese), Òtarta de SantiagoÓ (almond cake) and Galician wines such as Albari o and Ribeiro. In winter, ÒcocidoÓ (stew), Òcaldo galegoÓ (Galician broth) and stuffed ÒfilloasÓ (crepes). And many delights (convent cakes and biscuits, wines, eau-de-vies, cold meats and cheeses) can be bought to take away. Directory available in municipal tourist offices.
All the information at www.SantiagoTurismo.com
(¥): Museums and collections that can be visited. (¥¥): Views.
Guided Tours: Compostela Walking Tours Ð Turismo de Santiago Brand: Monumental Santiago in English Contemporary Architecture Enclosed Convents Churches Night Tour Gastronomy Tour Artist Workshops Traditional Workshops MP3 Audio-Guides Other Tours Old Town Tour in Spanish Cathedral Rooftops University Heritage Tourist Train Self-Guided Walks Monumental Panoramic Enclosed Convents Churches Parks and Gardens Viewpoints Photographic Walk Compostela Visi n Sightseeing Trips June to September: R as Baixas and Costa da Morte Other destinations on request Other Compostur Products Tourist Flights in Light Aircraft Spas and Hydrotherapy Centres Active Tourism Golf Way of St. James
design: Taller DD_ 07/10
Santiago is big
More information: Santiago de CompostelaÕs Official Tour Operator: (+34) 902 190 160 www.santiagoreservas.com
Directory Turismo de Santiago de Compostela Main Municipal Tourist Information Office R a do Vilar, 63. Tel: (+34) 981 555 129 Open all year. Winter: Mon-Fri, 9 am-7 pm. Sat-Sun and holidays, 9 am-2 pm, 4-7 pm. Easter-summer: Every day, 9 am9 pm. info@santiagoturismo.com www.santiagoturismo.com
Tourist Information Office Xo n XXIII Coach Terminus. Tel: (+34) 981 576 698 Open all year. EasterÐOct: every day, 9 am-6 pm. Winter: every day, 9.30 am-2 pm , 4-6 pm. Emergencies: 112